Photo 365 Part 1

We have gotten too big for our britches! You can continue to follow Photo Challenge Days 365, 51-100   by clicking: HERE

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Day 50, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70, Asa 200, f4.5

Happy New Year!

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Day 49, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70, f4.0, asa 200

Have a wonderful New Years Eve!

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Day 48 Nikon D70, lens 50mm, f2.8 asa 200

How is it that I can spend the entire afternoon at the museum, looking at the stunning landscapes by some of the best painters in the world, and still, we can never recreate what nature provides effortlessly.

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Day 47, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, f2.2

A quick little shot of some of the evening’s candles.

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Day 46 Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, f4.0 Asa 200
A quick shot of the setting sun. We actually had the sun appear for the first time in a week!

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Day 45, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, f2.8

We have really had some amazing weather over the last week. First a couple feet of snow, then rain, ice and more snow. Back into the deep freeze. It makes for hard walking but beautiful views.

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Day 44, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70

It has finally stopped snowing here but what a beautiful vision we have been left with. The Christmas blizzard left us with some stunning vistas. It is a complete winter wonderland!

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Day 43 Nikon D70, Lens 18-70, Asa 200

I caught this beautiful shot of some of the pines surrounding my home at a quiet moment in the early evening.

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Day 42 Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Blessed New Year!

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Day 41 Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, asa 200, f3.4

It is howling outside so, a quick inside photo was in order. Every Christmas, part of the decorating is the light that hangs over the kitchen table. I have an entire set of fun animal ornaments that get to come out and play!

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Day 40 Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, Asa 200, F4.0

I have started carrying my camera everywhere these days. My daughter and I stopped for a quick lunch while Christmas shopping and were greeted by this beautiful arrangement as we walked through the door of the restaurant.

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Day 39, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, asa 200, f6.5

It is another very gray day here. Not much good light. And without good light, it is hard to get good shots. The weeds in the marsh were cooperating.

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Day 38 Nikon D 70, Lens 50mm, asa 200, f4.0

A quick shot right outside the back door. Not much time for writing, the holidays are upon us!

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Day 37, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, Asa 200, f2.5

I spent the day decorating the tree so it seemed only fit to try to take some pictures of it tonight. It is interesting experimenting with shooting in such low light. Hopefully, I will get better at it!

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Day 36, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, asa200, f 2.5

I don’t have much for you tonight. After spending the day doing errands, and preparing for my youngest daughter’s homecoming tomorrow, I came home to find the internet down. After an hour and a half with tech support, I still have no internet. Then, I had to redo the duct work for the dryer. It was falling apart in a few places. That is what happens when you have an old home. Finally, I was done with the distractions and was able to get the lights on the tree and some more garlands up. The one going up the stairs posed for this.

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Day 35, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, Asa 200

My friend, Kim invited me over this afternoon to have some Christmas season fun. She is one of the most creative people I know and always comes up with the most interesting ideas for decorating. I have been trying to convince her to start a blog for months now! She has a table in her entryway that is all white. It is like a crystal snow Christmas scene. It is amazing. I got a quick shot of one of the bowl that she had set out.

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Day 34, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, asa 200, f2.5

I set out to find something interesting to shoot. Took quite a few pictures but nothing came out well. So, sticking my head outside the back door, I glanced at this little spray of berries. I liked how they looked with the chair in the background. It gives some interest and movement.

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Day 33, Nikon D70, lens 50 mm, Asa 200, F 4.5

I returned to the same place as yesterday to get some more shots of the beautiful arrangements that they had for sale. I love the way the hydrangea’s compliment the pine. I am going to have to hunt more tomorrow.

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Day 32: Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, asa 200, f 3.5

This time of year there is so much beauty around us. I found this arrangement sitting outside of a store.

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Day 31, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70mm, Asa 200, F 18

A little shot that I caught of downtown Minneapolis over looking Lake Calhoun. It is one of the lakes in the chain of lakes that run right through Minneapolis. We have had one of the warmest Novembers on record, which is why the water is open. Normally at this time of year, we are skating on the lakes. December, however has been very cold so the ice is finally forming.

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Day 30, Nikon D70, 18-70mm, asa1600,

At dusk, the only option was a very fast shutter speed which gives a bit of grain to the picture. The subject, however is one of my favorites.

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Day 29, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, asa 200, f 3.5

Another cold day in the hood. Another lucky shot at sunset. I am getting ready to get out of the yard!

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Day 28, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, f2.8, asa 200

It is COLD here and I honestly didn’t want to venture too far from the house to get a shot. Luckily, this pine branch and the setting sun combined to make something worth shooting. Stay warm!

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Day 27, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm 1.4, f2.8, asa 400

It is cold, blowing and snowy. I am not going far from the front door. Luckily, this little piggie helped me out for today’s shot.

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Day 26, Cannon Powershot, Auto Mode

Summer meet winter, or maybe I should put the furniture away? Once again, the little pocket powershot and a quick photo of the start of the blizzard we are getting. I can’t wait to see how much snow we get…tomorrow should tell!

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Day 25, Blackberry Storm

So, the purpose of this challenge is to push myself. To find shots where I might not and to use different ways of capturing those shots. This morning, on my walk. I came across this beautiful scene. But not a camera in hand. I did have my blackberry so I took a shot. Lesson learned? Be creative! Don’t look at limitations, dream of possibilities.

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Day 24, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70mm, asa 200, f8

A quick jump out of the car on an extremely cold afternoon. Lake Minnetonka provided a quick photo op.

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Day 23, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70mm, Asa 400, F8

Walking through a winter’s indoor farmers market, I noticed a vase thai t a potter had set up in front of a cement pillar. I was taken with the interplay between the soft, colorful flowers and the hard pottery and cement. It did’t hurt that it was also illuminated by some light softly filtering through the ceiling.

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Day 22, Nikon D70, lens 50 ml

I have been up since 3:45. This is all I’ve got.

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Day 21, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70, asa 200, F8

For Jemma, here is you cow. He seemed very nice but the farmer wasn’t too happy. Even though I was on the road, I still got yelled at. The things we do for our lovely friends.

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Day 20, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70 mm, asa 200, F9

I was driving through town and revisited the place that I took the shot yesterday. I had promised my friend, Jemma cows today but never made it to the country. Tomorrow, Jemma, tomorrow.

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Day 19, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70 Asa 200, F9

Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. They say that is a great underestimate. I live near this beautiful lake, and it offered up a beautiful shot today. Still gray. Gray sky, gray water, gray, gray, gray. But gray can be beautiful, too.

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Day 18, Cannon PowerShot SD790 IS: Shooting Auto Mode

I always carry my little Cannon Powershot around in my purse, never wanting to potentially miss a shot. Honestly, I don’t even know how to use this camera except to attempt to set the light, etc. I find it more confusing than my digital SLR. I suppose if I took 10 seconds to look at the manual, I could learn a lot.

I caught this beautiful scene as I was driving home. The sun was setting, catching just the tops of the cattails and illuminating the willow trees. I only had time for one quick shot as traffic was coming and I was not parked is the best of places. But for day 17, it will work.

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Day 17, Nikon D70, lens 50mm

Once again very dark and gray here. It is getting extremely frustrating to get a good shot. Everything is gray. Even the light. It is that time of year. This is my brother’s truck. He loved this truck. He has been gone for 4 years, the truck sits by my back garage. So, on this dark and dreary day, the truck gets its moment in the spotlight. I shot this wide open at a very high asa. 1600. As you can see, it added a grainy texture to the shadows. I think it works with the subject.

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Day 16, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70 mm, asa 200, f 5.0

I am starting to question challenging myself to do this photo 365 event. Especially on busy days when I really don’t have time to get out and find a decent shot. On the other hand, it is pushing me. It is a good push. I want to improve my photography and that includes always looking at things a little differently. I grabbed this shot, just before sunset as I was driving home. I forgot to check the white balance…I am sure it was set incorrectly. A lesson learned. But I still like the composition, and the dreamy effect you get at this time of day. Now, wouldn’t a beautiful sky have been the best thing? Oh ya…it was pretty gray.

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Day 15, Nikon D70, Lens 50mm, Asa 200, f 2.2

Back lighting provided by the sun.

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Day 14, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70, ASA 200, f5.0

It is Thanksgiving and my tummy is full. After dinner,  I took a quick shot my mother’s neighbor’s pond. We are having a warm November after a cold October. I was hoping for snow, but not yet. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Day 13, Nikon D70, Lens 18-70, ASA 400, F5.0

I realize that we haven’t gotten past Thanksgiving yet but I spotted this window and just had to shoot it. It was once again, a very dark gray day here. Thus the need to boost the speed. The holidays are upon us!

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Day 12 NikonD70, Lens 18-70 mm, ASA 1600, F22

Once again, totally gray, no contrast, misty, rainy day. But mist and rain can create their own moods that can be beautiful in their own way. Serene, peaceful, inviting us to become lost in another world.

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Day 11 Nikon D70, lens 50mm, ASA 1600, F5.0

Today was another tough day to get a shot. It misting lightly, no light, and I was pressed for time. I wandered through the woods behind my house and found an old metal chimney that had been sitting there for years. I boosted the asa to 1600 to avoid having to go and get the tripod. Plus I thought that adding a little grain to the photo might make for an interesting effect. Day 10 in the can.

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Day 10, Nikon D70, 50mm 1.4 lens

Once again, it is a very dark, gray day in Minneapolis. I had spotted some milkweed pods earlier in the morning when I went on my walk. Sitting at the bottom of my driveway, just begging to be shot, a tripod was required because of the low light. I was able to shoot at a 200 ASA with the tripod to get the most information for the shot.

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Day 9 Nikon D70, Lens 70-300mm

This was just way too easy. Nothing more needs to be said. Hi, Izzy.

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Day 8! Nikon D70, Lens 18-70mm

Can you believe that I am on day 7? I can’t. I love the fact that I am now thinking about photography a lot. This challenge is forcing me to see everything differently. I have put on a new pair of glasses as I am constantly searching for that one image that will please. Today it was an old truck that is a fixture in front of a store. I have walked past this truck hundreds of times. Today, I saw it in a whole new light.

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Day 7 NikonD70, 18-70 mm

It was a very gray day here. Tough to find anything to shoot. I wandered into Wayzata  (a nearby town) and found this little arrangement in front of a store.

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Day 6: Nikon D70, 18-70mm lens

Another day looking for a shot. Sometimes it just requires looking at something you see every day in a new way.

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Day 5 Nikon D70, Lens 18-70 mm.

Ok…this is getting a little tough. The day is going by, I am working away and all of a sudden, I remember, I need to go and take a shot! Returning to the scene of the crime from yesterday, I looked across the street and wala! This beautiful old barn was just asking to be shot. So, here you go, day 5.

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Day 4: Nikon D70, Lens 18-70mm

Today’s shot was a pure desperation shot. Earlier in the day, I had gone for a walk with a friend. There is a great trail, minutes from my house. I took about 40 pictures on this 5 mile walk. When I came home, I threw the disk in the reader and became completely dismayed. There was not one picture that was worth putting on this site. Seriously, not one. Knowing that I had made this commitment, I apologized to my dogs and headed out again. Just down the road is, Noerenberg Gardens. I thought I might find something there.

When I got there, I was actually surprised to find the gate open. I pulled in and got out of the car. Quickly walking to the lake, I spotted a woman in a red coat, hastily coming toward me. Busted, I thought. She kindly explained that the gardens were closed and they were just there doing a little work and were closing the gate now. I pleaded and she consented. A few minutes later, I had some pretty acceptable shots. I am enjoying this challenge.

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Day 3:  Nikon D70, Shutter Speed 1/30, Aperture 4.5, Lens 18-70mm

I am starting to question my sanity when I decided to do this challenge. But I do think it will really improve my photography. We will see! Not wanting to leave my house, I started walking through the woods. It is really a dead time of year. Nothing seemed to pop for me. I called the dogs and was just walking up the steps to the back door when I spotted the sun hitting my little bird house. This house has lived on the back porch from day one. And it has even been inhabited! As you can see from the twigs that some little bird worked very hard to stuff through the little hole. So, today, I guess my lesson is to look at the things we look at every day, in a new way.

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Day 2: Nikon D70.  Shutter Speed 1/15, Aperture F 4.0, Lens 50mm

Today I faced my first challenge on the Photo 360 challenge. And it is only day 2! I taught a raw food class and was completely occupied with prep and teaching. By the time I was done, the light was disappearing and I didn’t have much to shoot. I opted for another leaf shot. I an not too excited about it, but mission complete.

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Day 1:  Nikon D70. Shutter Speed 1/30, Aperture 2.8, Lens 50 mm 1.8.

When it comes to photography, I am a bit of a hack. When I started this raw food blog, I knew that I needed to take pictures of the food. I had a little background in photography. I took a class in high school, and one in college. I have always been captivated by the medium but never really dug in and learned. I didn’t even know what white balance was (I will explain later…). But I am an artist. I look at everything with an artist’s eye. So, when the raw food recipes started coming, I started shooting. Darn if I didn’t get some decent pictures!

If you are like me, when you have a little success, it fuels the fire to become better. I started looking at food photography on the web and learning everything I could. One of my favorite sites, that truly inspired my food photography was Vegan Yum Yum. Her photography is mouthwatering but most important, she actually shared some of her techniques in a very understandable way. When people start talking technical, my eyes glaze over. But with Vegan Yum Yum, I learned about natural lighting and the famous 50 ml lens (More about that later, too) without needing a straight jacket.

I recently read about doing a 360 challenge. You challenge yourself to take a picture a day. It is a way to grow and stretch. What better place to do that than here, with you. I will be posting the photos daily and also talking about technique and development. I invite you to learn along with me. And if you are up for it, start your own Photo 360 challenge. When I get this up and rolling, I would love to see some of your pictures, too! Tomorrow you will find this thread at the top of the blog on a tab called Photo 360.

That said, this is day 1. I took this shot right outside of my back door. It was quite dark out and a light mist was falling. I needed the tripod because of the lack of light. Wanting to highlight the darker leaves and create almost a water color like feel, I knew that I would have to shoot with a shallow depth of field (the 2.8 number). I used my famous 50 mm lens. I use it almost exclusively when shooting the food shots. It isn’t an expensive or glamorous lens but boy does it do a nice job.

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We have gotten too big for our britches! You can continue to follow Photo Challenge Days 365, 51-100   by clicking: HERE